Resolve "The user profile service failed the log on. User profile can not be loaded"

Introduction

Once in a while you get "The user profile service failed the log on. User profile can not be loaded" error when trying to logon into Windows. This article describes resolution when Default user account is faulty and gives links to other possible causes and resolutions. In my case the error occured when trying to logon to Windows 7 with domain user account that hadn't used that PC before.

Note. I have only experienced this issue with Windows 7 on Windows Server 2008 domain and below instructions have been tested on Widows 7 only (no difference between 32bit and 64bit versions). Same instructions might apply to Windows Vista.

Note2. Although instructions are for using Live Linux CD/USB and I presume reader to be familiar with the way Linux handles drives, there is a link a the end to give you instructions of how to do the same within MS Windows.

Steps
(7 total)

1

Get any Linux Live CD

I prefer using linux live CD or Live USB when it comes to working with MS Windows Folders that are natively hidden by MS Windows. You can get live CD from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop or distro of your choice.

There will be a link to a forum post that describes below procedure under windows, but as I said, I prefer Linux for this task.

2

Live Boot into "Good PC"

Use Live CD/Live USB to boot a PC with Windows 7 on it that you know does not have issue with new user logons.

3

TAR the Default user

I have found that plain copy and even rsync is having difficulties with handling Winows internal links and found that TAR is a good option to get the "Default" user folder backed up.

If you are using Live CD - copy the TAR backup onto a USB Thumb Drive. If you are using Live USB (assuming it is persistent one), you can leave TAR backup on your Linux desktop.

4

Live Boot into "Bad PC"

use the same Live USB (if you used live USB to backup Default user profile) or boot with Live CD and have TAR'd Default user profile to hand and boot PC with the issue.

5

Replace Default User profile

once you are Live Booted onto malfunctioning PC, rename Default user folder to something else (e.g. Faulty.Default) and then extract your TAR'd backup so it is saved where the faulty profile was.

6

Boot into Windows

Now boot into windows and try to logon. You should be able to logon now without a problem.

7

The issue is not fixed, what now?

If you followed above steps and issue is not fixed, it might be that issue lies somewhere else and not in Default user profile.
See this link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215 for possible solutions

Conclusion

I had the above issue three or four times and every time it was due to corrupt Default User profile. Microsoft KB947215 suggest that above issue is related to Registry, but registry will be created only for user who had successfully logged on at least once, which was not the case in my situation.

And thank you to everyone who's websites or forum posts I have linked to. All the details have led to unified solution.